Mussolini gains power, 1920-22 Flashcards
LO: taking advantage of political unrest, establishing a dual policy, the March on Rome and its significance, role of Victor Emmanuel III, Mussolini's appointment as PM
how did Mussolini exploit social confusion and political instability in Italy?
he offered simple solutions to complex social and economic issues, gained support from WW1 veterans by emphasizing national glory, and took advantage of the weaknesses of the Liberal State and the fears of the landowners, middle-classes and industrialists
what role did Mussolini play in exploiting the instability of the national govt and the Socialist Party from 1920? (why)
he took advantage to further his political agenda and gain support
how did the split of the PSI into the PCI in january 1921 impact the political situation in Italy?
it weakend the political strength of the left-wing movement, as the PCI was too small to be a political threat, but it provided valuable propaganda for Mussolini, esp. as it aligned with the Bolsheviks
why did the formation of the PCI benefit Mussolini?
its focus on revolution and its alignment with the Bolsheviks provided Mussolini with propaganda, portraying Italy as on the brink of a communist revolution similar to Russia’s in 1917, which scared the middle classes and industrialists
what was the issue with the failure of parties to work together in an anti-fascist alliance?
various parties failed to unite against fascism due to personal animosities, such as Giolitti’s refusal to support the anti-Fascist coalition in July 1922, contributing to political instability and the collapse of several govts from 1919 to 1922
what effect did Giolitti’s electoral pact with Mussolini and the Fascists in 1921 have on the fascists’ influence?
his electoral pact allowed Mussolini’s fascists to enter parliament as govt-backed candidates. after winning, Mussolini immediately declared he would vote with the opposition, increasing the fascists’ influence in the govt
what was the outcome of the 1921 election for Mussolini and the fascists, and other parties?
they gained 35 seats in parliament, alongside 123 socialists, 15 communists, 107 PPI members.
Giolitti resigned after the election, signaling a shift in power
how did Giolitti’s successor (and who + when was it) attempt to control fascist squads?
in December 1921, Ivanoe Bonomi issues a feeble attempt to control the fascist squads by merely authorizing action, making anti-Fascist measures optional. This lack of firm action allowed fascist violence to continue unchecked
what was the impact of the general strike in July 1922 on the fascists?
strike called by socialists provided an excuse for fascist squads to attack strikers, burn the socialist newspaper Avanti!, and disrupt transportation, contributing to the view that the Italian govt was weak and needed replacement
how did fascist violence in 1922 contribute to Mussolini’s growing power?
it led to many elites to believe that fascists could support the govt in dealing with socialism, leading to further legitimacy and power for Mussolini
what did the violence of the fascist squads provide for the fascists?
basis for fascist strength and a possible means to overthrow parliament and seize power through force
what did Mussolini want to do instead of overthrowing the govt?
he wanted take power through more constitutional channels
why was the dual policy difficult to balance?
Mussolini had to make between the radical, revolutionary members of the PNF and those who were more conservative and wanted power through parlt
what was the Pact of Pacification and when?
August 1921
attempt of a pact with socialist trade union and PSI members in parlt
why did Mussolini want this pact? (what he said)
he asserted that it was necessary to bring political and social peace to Italy at a time when the nation required it
what were the real reasons for the pact?
cynical political manoeuvring
assert his dominance over fascism and force the ras to follow him
why did the pact fail?
he overestimated his ability to control the ras
how did Mussolini underestimate the ras?
Dino Grandi, Italo Balbo and Roberto Farinacci condemned the pact and meetings of squadristi were held throughout Italy, calling for an end to deal with socialists
what did Mussolini do as a response to the failing of the pact?
he resigned on 18 August
what was the impact of his resignation?
without his leadership, the fascists lacked unity or direction. The ras were unable to work together to formulate policy and Mussolini’s absence as leader consequently strengthened his position by demonstrating how crucial he was to the party
how did Mussolini gain loyalty of potential opponents within the party? (example)
Grandi was offered a prominent role on a new fascist journal and consequently confimed his support for Mussolini
when was the PNF conference?
November 1921
why was PNF conference important?
fascist delegates overwhelmingly voted to support Mussolini as leader and confirm the organisation of the movement into an official party, and crucially Mussolini had won a significant victory over the ras
what did the programme of the PNF confirm?
that the squadristi were under control of party leadership, not the ras
what concession did Mussolini have to take?
drop the pact of pacification
when did Mussolini drop his dual policy ?
October 1921- he now actively encouraged an upsurge in fascist violence
how were the fascist squads organised in late 1921?
they were grouped into ‘cohorts’ under the command of ‘consuls’, who were organised under zone commanders
what was the fascist squads’ strategy in 1922?
the Blackshirts attacked areas where socialists controlled local councils, spreading violence from the east coast to areas around Rome
how did the Liberal govt respond to fascist violence in 1922?
it was inadequate, and Bonomi’s govt collapsed in Feb. 1922, replaced by the weak govt of Luigi Facta
what was the impact of fascist violence in 1922?
they attacked socialist and communist-held areas, murdering leaders, burning offices, and forcing left-wing councils to reisgn. By October 1922, they had become the de facto govt in many Italian provinces
what role did Italo Balbo play in fascist violence in 1922?
he led squads through Rimini to Bertinoro, destroying buildings where socialists and communists held meetings, contributing to the spread of fascist violence
how did the fascists present themselves as they took over areas in 1922?
they asserted that they were saving the nation from the communist threat, while also maintaining some public services with volunteers
what was the status of the PNF in 1922?
PNF had grown to around 320,000 members, and nearly half a million workers had joined fascist trade unions
how did Mussolini pursue his dual policy in September and October 1922?
he promised moderate conservative policies if fascists were included in a govt coalition, while simultaneously encouraging attacks in towns controlled by conservative liberals like Bolzano and Trent
how did Mussolini exploit divisions among liberal parliamentarians?
he encouraged divisions by separately promising several politicians, inc. Nitti, Salandra, Facta and Giolitti that they could become PM in a fascist coalition govt
what was the political manoeuvring by Orlando and Nitti regarding the fascists?
both wanted to become PMs in a fascist coalition, but refused to accept a solution where they were not PM
what was Mussolini’s main reason for preferring to be appointed PM constitutionally instead of taking violent action in October 1922?
he believed it would give him a stronger position as leader of Italy and over his own party, and he was concerned about the military’s potential response to an armed uprising
what did Mussolini declare in his public speech in Naples on 24 October 1922?
he said “either we are allowed to govern or we will seize power by Marching on Rome”
what actions did fascist groups take on the night of 27 October?
fascist groups gathered at three locations around 20 miles from Rome and attempted to seize government buildings in towns around northern and central Italy, creating an atmosphere of intimidation and fear
what did Facta do on 27 October 1922?
he requested that the king declare martial law and use the army to crush the fascist insurrection
what was the King’s initial response to the fascist takeover on 28 October 1922?
he agreed to Facta’s request and the army began to assume control in Milan, with an order drawn up for Mussolini’s arrest
what were the fascist squads unlikely to pose a serious threat to the military on 28 Oct?
they were poorly armed, had depleted numbers, and faced challenges such as bad weather and sabotaged railway lines, which reduced their ability to organise effectively
what crucial decision did the king make on the morning of 28 Oct?
the king suddenly refused to sign the decree declaring a state of emergency, which ensured fascist success and allowed Mussolini to gain power
when was Mussolini’s appointment as PM?
30 October 1922
why did King Victor Emmanuel III initially agree to use martial law but then change his mind?
he feared Italy was on the brink of civil war and wasn’t sure if army could crush both socialists and fascists.
he also was not confident the army would comply with an order to crush the fascists due to the support the fascists had among veterans and some generals
how did the Duke of Aosta influence the king’s decision making?
the Duke saw the king as weak and had aspirations to replace him, and he did not want to give Aosta an excuse to remove him from the throne by acting too harshly against Mussolini and the fascists
why did the king decide to support Mussolini and the fascists by making them part of the govt?
he believed he could exert more control over them within the govt and supported them because the traditional liberal system was collapsing, leaving no other source of political stability
how did fascist propaganda portray the March on Rome?
it depicted the march on rome as a disciplined and unified movement by thousands of Blackshirts marching on Rome to save the country from a corrupt political system and the threat of socialism
what was significant about Mussolini arriving in Rome before the fascist marchers?
he arrived to take up the king’s offer to govt before the fascist marchers even reached Rome, symbolising his legal rise to power
what did the 50,000 Blackshirts and army troops do when they marched through Rome on the 31st Oct?
they celebrated the achievement of political power for the fascist movement
